News

Clean Water Brings Hope to Ugandan Families

Since coming to Uganda in
1980, ChildFund has worked to improve the quality of life for thousands of
Ugandan children and their families. Despite everything that ChildFund and our
partners have accomplished, many communities still lack basic amenities such as
adequate sanitation and health care.

The Importance of Hygiene

According to the World
Health Organization, Uganda has a population
of almost 33.5 million people. Approximately 25 percent of Ugandans live
below the poverty line, which is significantly better than the 56 percent
poverty rate recorded in 1992 and 1993. However, millions of people, especially
those living in rural areas, still struggle with food scarcity, inadequate
sanitation and disease.

One of the most urgent
problems facing many Ugandans is a lack of access to clean water. Respiratory
infections and diarrhea remain serious health threats, especially to young
children. Inadequate sanitation is often directly responsible for the spread of
preventable illnesses, and many children die as a result. According to UNICEF,
the
2010 mortality rate among Ugandan children under the age of 5 was 99 per 1,000
live births, and the average life expectancy in Uganda is just 54 years
old.

Clean Water, Better Health

Because preventable,
waterborne germs cause death and sickness among Ugandan children, we have
focused on providing access to clean water supplies. According to UNICEF, 91
percent of people living in urban areas have access to clean water, but the same
can be said for only 64 percent of families living in rural areas. Similarly,
fewer than half of rural Ugandans have access to adequate sanitation
systems.

Our goal is to raise
$19,000 to install 45 water tanks in Butemba. Each tank can hold almost 1,600
gallons of clean water. This project will ensure that families affected by HIV
and AIDS will have a reliable source of clean drinking water, and up to 300
children will benefit directly from this initiative. To date, we have raised
more than $10,000.

To help us improve the
lives of families living with HIV in Uganda, please consider making a donation
to this project. Your generosity will make a tremendous difference in the lives
of hundreds of children and offer hope to families affected by HIV and AIDS.

Accountability

ChildFund International has earned high ratings from Charity Navigator, the American Institute of Philanthropy and Charities Review Council.